Title: I'll Always Love You
Chapter: 7
Author's Note: Next chapters up, in less than a months time from the last one! I'm going to be wrapping this one up pretty soon. I've already got another story in the works though.
Newest Chapter(s) Added: Chapter 7
Chapter(s) Last Added: Feb. 15, '06
The last rays of the setting sun had been gone for a few hours, by the time the 'scoobies' got together at the Magic Box to discuss the events of the last couple days. Everyone was gathered around the table in the center of the store talking quietly amongst themselves.
Willow had been informed of Tara's appearance at the Magic Box shortly after Buffy's encounter with her. Willow had immediately gone to the little shop and hadn't left Tara's side since she arrived.
The bell at the front entrance of the Magic Box rang out loud, bringing the idle chat of the gang to a halt as they all looked up to see who had entered the shop. "Evening." Spike said as he sauntered up to the table, pulling up an empty chair and lounging in it, looking at everyone as if he belonged there with them.
Almost everyone stared back at him as if he were completely out of his mind. Finally Buffy stood and put her hands on the table leaning forward slightly. "Spike, what are you doing here?"
"Oh, that's right. Forget that I'm the one who saved Red, over there." he said. "No time for a 'thank you', just jump right back into kicking me around like you always do." He stood up and started to leave.
"Well if you insist." Xander said. "I'd like to take first shot, if that's okay with everyone else."
"Xander! Please. Don't be so rude." Willow scolded him. "Spike, wait." she said turning to the bleach blonde vampire. "Guys, I asked Spike to come tonight." She continued as she looked at everyone in turn.
Buffy looked at her best friend, her expression a mixture of both shock and confusion. After a few moments she finally found her voice. "Okay, Will. If you want him here, but I have to ask... Why?"
"Buffy... Well, not just you but everyone, he saved my life last night. If it wasn't for him I'd probably be dead right now, or worse..." she said, standing behind her girlfriend who was seated at the table in front of her, she rested her hands on Tara's shoulders.
"Okay, I guess that's... fair." Buffy said scowling slightly as she sat back in her seat.
"Um, Yes, indeed. If Willow asked you here, by all means... please, sit." Giles said as he took off his glasses and started to clean them.
Spike sat back in his chair, smiling like a child who had just gotten away with some misdeed behind their parents back, while everyone else sat there scowling back at him.
"Will, I understand that he saved you, but why do you want him here?" Xander had to ask, not bothering to try to hide his dislike of the vampire.
"Because, he's been a big help to us on many occasions. And... if he's going to continue helping us, I think he deserves to know what's going on, instead of just jumping in blind all the time." Willow said giving Xander a look of determination that dared him to question her again. "Besides, I think he's proven himself." She finished as she pulled a chair up and sat down beside Tara.
"I think Willow makes a fine point." Anya said. "Just because he's a demon, doesn't mean he can't be more than that if you give him the chance."
Everyone in the room looked over at the thousand year old ex-vengeance demon. They knew that her agreement with Willow about Spike was as much about her own place in the group, as it was about Spikes.
"Yes, yes, quite right." Giles said as he put his glasses back on. "At any rate, shall we discuss this situation with Tara?" He asked, motioning towards the newly born vampire. Everyone went silent at the mention of Tara. Giles cleared his throat, then spoke once again. "Mmm, yes. Uh, Buffy was telling me that you a-and, Anya tried to do a spell to restore your soul earlier this morning?" He said looking to Tara.
"Oh, yes. We tried. But it didn't work..." She looked down toward her lap before she quietly finished her sentence. "Obviously."
"Well, do you know what went, er, wrong?" Giles asked, lifting his eyebrows.
"Willow wasn't there. We need her help. Tara's not a powerful enough wicca to do it on her own, even with my help." Anya stated, before Tara had a chance to say anything.
Willow looked over at Tara with sadness and determination in her eyes, and reached her hand out and placed it on Tara's arm. At Willow's touch, Tara pulled away slightly, then looked over at Willow, who's expression had turned to one of hurt. She tried to give Tara a reassuring smile as she pulled her hand away and rested it back in her own lap.
"I'm sorry, if I would have known, I'd have come to help this morning." She said.
"I suggested we call you..." Anya said, then let her sentence trail off.
"Right, well. No sense in talking about something we can't change. Do we have the materials that we'll need to try again?" Giles asked crossing his legs and resting his hands on his knee.
"Not all of them. We'll need to get another Orb of Thessula." Anya told everyone. "I'm not sure how long it will take... it shouldn't be too long though."
"Well, in the mean time, I suggest that we, uh, Tara, stay somewhere safe. Preferably away from any temptations that may arise." Giles said.
Willow frowned. "You mean you think she should be locked up? Like some animal?"
"No, well, uh, technically, yes. But not like an animal. We can make her comfortable, she doesn't have to be in a cage or anything of that sort. But, it is in her best interest as well as ours, just until we complete the spell."
"It's okay. I understand." Tara said taking a deep breath. "Where ever you want me to stay."
"There's just one thing I want to know... That I've been thinking about, but I just don't get." Xander said.
"Xander?" Giles said, looking at the dark haired young man sitting across from him.
"Why isn't she all with the mass murder, blood sucking, take your children in the middle of the night, like every other soulless vampire in the world?" Xander inquired.
"Hmm, good question. I do recall reading about a similar situation some time ago in my watcher diaries. If I remember correctly, it's something like this:" Giles said taking off his glasses and holding them in his hand, resting on his knee as he spoke. "Back in the 1500's there was a young woman who was turned into a vampire, much the same as Tara. Both the uh, situation in which it happened, as well as the personality of the young woman being very similar to Tara's. Apparently when someone is, er, turned- - it accentuates certain qualities, the darker, more... evil qualities... that, that individual has, whether they are obvious to anyone else or not. Every now and then however, someone is turned who indeed has no deeper hidden darker side. They are truly pure beings. Since they have no evil side to accentuate, they stay the same as they always have been, at least, for the most part. They do become a bit more temperamental, and edgy than before, easily irritated. And although they aren't like other vampires, in that they want to go out and kill every living being they run across, they are still evil creatures. They still require blood to survive, and if they go too long without it, the demon part of them takes over and they go against their own wishes, and take an innocent life in order to quiet the need for blood." Giles finally finished, as he put his glasses back on.
"Huh. That's a pretty little story you have there. Can't say that it's entirely true though." Spike said scowling a little.
"What do you mean?" Willow asked, turning her attention to the bleach blonde vampire.
"It's just, a vampire who doesn't have the urge to kill? Please. Once the demons in you, it's there, and it's going to demand blood every chance you have to get it." He said almost humorously.
"No, I don't think that's right at all." Tara said trying to defend herself. "I really don't have the desire to bite anyone."
"Not yet, you don't. But you will, love. The longer you wait, the worse it's going to be when you finally do, too." Spike said.
"Yes, well, that's why I suggest that it would be wise to keep Tara somewhere safe, until we're able to get this spell complete." Giles interjected, trying to keep the worries of the group down to a minimum.
"Well, I guess that the only thing left to do, is decide where she'll stay then." Willow said looking toward's Tara once again.
"I think it would be best if you stayed at my house." Buffy said looking at Tara.
"What?" Willow asked with concern in her voice. "Why? I thought it would be the obvious choice for her to stay with me..."
"No, Will. At my house she can have the basement to herself. I'll be able to keep an eye on her. It'll be less worry for everyone that way." Buffy insisted.
"Yes. I think that's a wise decision." Giles said.
"I think Buffy's right." Tara said, glancing briefly at Willow.
"No... Fine, but- - I'm staying too then." Willow said.
"You shouldn't." Tara said as she stood up and walked over to the counter, where she stopped and rested against it. "I wouldn't want to do anything to you, if things got out of control."
"I'm not afraid of that happening." Willow tried to argue.
"No, now... that's it Willow." Tara said firmly. "I've made up my mind. I don't want you there with me."
Willow looked at Tara with an expression that was a mixture of frustration and hurt. "Fine. Suit yourself. I suppose I'm not good enough to be with you anymore." She said standing up, and walking toward the door. Everyone watched as she left the Magic box.
Buffy sighed deeply. "Someone should go after her."
"I'll go." Xander said with a lop-sided smile, then stood up and followed Willow out of the shop.
"Well, I suppose that's the end of this meeting. Everyone should go home and get some rest." Giles said. "Oh, Buffy... Will you be patrolling tonight?"
"Oh, ah, yeah. Once I get Tara back to my house and settled in the basement I was planning on going for a quick patrol, unless you don't want me to." Buffy said.
"No, no, of course. Very good. You should patrol."
